Swab pump for oil field production



Jan, 3, 1963 c vJ. zlEGLER Em.

' swAB PUMP FOR OIL FIELD PRODUCTION FiledAug. 29. 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 8, 1963 c. J. zlEGLER ETAL SWAB PUMP FOR OIL FIELD PRODUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 29, 1958 Jan. 8, 1963 c. J. ZIEGLER ETAL swAB PUMP Foa on. FIELD PRODUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 29. 1958 Jan. 8, 1963 c. J. zlEGLER ETAL 3,072,193

swAB PUMP FQR oIL FIELD PRODUCTION y Filed Aug. 29, 1958 v e sheets-sheet 4 Jan. 8, 1963 c. J. zlEc-:LER ETAL 3,072,193

swAB PUMP FOR OIL FIELD PRODUCTION Filed Aug. 29,-1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 //-`L\ l/ l x i. 56 F/e i "Huw l 57 I] l 55 |||[l f Jan 8, 1953 I c. .1. zlr-:GLER ETAL V 3,072,193

SWAB PUMP FOR OIL FIELD PRODUCTION Filed Aug. 29, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 VOLTS f MANI/AL SWITCH INV ENTOR WMM ' ATTORNEY s.

tartes The present invention relates to a swab pump for .Oil field production and particularly to such a unit which is completely automatic.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a self contained swab pumping unit which is completely automatic in its operation and adjustable to permit use under varying circumstances.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary swab pumping mechanism which is automatically actuated to operate through continuous pumping cycles.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a swab pumping unit of the class described above, a winch structure having a power driven levelwind associated therewith to maintain the cable on the winch in a level condition.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a swab pump unit for oil field production which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple to set up and use, and which effectively produces oil under widely varying conditions.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in light of the attached drawings, in which:

PILGURE 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the invention shown partially broken away for convenience of illustration;

FlGURE 2a is a side elevation of the invention, shown partially broken away for convenience of illustration;

FGURE 2b is a side elevation of the swab shown in position in the oil well;

RGURE 3 is a front elevation of the invention, shown partially broken away for convenience of illustration;

FlGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through one of the support legs;

lGUlE 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the support leg adjustment mechanism;

F 6 is a vertical sectional View taken through the upper table sheave support;

FEGURE 7 isa fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line '7-7 of FIGURE 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

dlGURE S is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the leg connecting block;

FGURE l() is a perspective view of the upper table sheave support;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line llllll of FEGURE l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE l2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line lZ--fZ of FIGURE ll, looking in the direction of the arrow; and

FIGURE, 13 is a schematic diagram generally illustrating the electrical circuits provided for controlling the operation of the automatic swab pump unit.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several gures, the reference numeral 2d indicates generally a swab pump unit for oil field production constructed in accordance with the invention.

The unit 2t) is provided with a horizontal pallet base 21 formed with deck portions 22 and a plurality of lillldd Patented dan. 8, 1953 i lice L! transversely extending cross beams 23. The pallet 2l has a forward end 24 and a rear end 2S.

An electric motor 26 is secured to one of the deck portions 22 and is provided with a longitudinally and forwardly extending motor shaft 27. A right angle drive gear box 2E is supported on the deck 22 forwardly of the motor 2e and laterally offset with respect t-o the motor The gear box 28 has a rearwardly extending in-put shaft 29. The motor shaft 27 and the input shaft 29 each carry multiple tf-belt pulleys 30, having a pair of V-be1ts 3l trained thereover so that the in-put shaft 29 is driven from the motor 25. The gear box Z8 has an out-put shaft 32 extending perpendicularly to the in-put shaft Z9 transversely of the pallet 2l.. The out-put shaft 32 has a pair of chain sprockets 33 secured thereto in adjacent relation. A winch generally indicated at 34 includes a transversely extending shaft 35 mounted on the pallet base 21 by means of bearing blocks 36. The shaft 35 has a pair 0f chain sprockets 37 secured to one end thereof in aligned relation to the chain sprockets 33 and a pair of drive chains 38 are trained over these sprockets 33, 37, respectively, so that the shaft 35 is driven by the shaft 32.

A winch drum 39 is mounted on the shaft 35 intermediate the bearing blocks 3d for rotation with the shaft 35. A chain sprocket 4t? is fixed to the end of the shaft 35 opposite the chain sprockets 37, for reasons to be assigned.

A levelwind unit, generally indicated at di, extends transversely of the pallet base 2l parallel to and Slightly forwardly of the winch 34. The levelwind unit 41 includes a pair of spaced apart parallel support brackets 42 having a pair of spaced apart transverse y extending parallel guide rods d3 arranged with their opposite ends iixedly secured and supported therein. A double threaded shaft de is arranged intermediate the guide rods d3 and parallel thereto and has its opposite ends journalled in the brackets A drive sprocket 45 is fixed to one end of the screw shaft d4. An idle shaft 46 is mounted above the screw shaft 4d, carrying a pair of sprockets i7 thereon. A drive chain d3 extends from the sprocket 4d On the winch shaft 35 to One of the sprockets 457 on the idle shaft de. A seco-nd drive chain i9 extends from the other sprocket i7 to the sprocket 45 so that the double threaded shaft 44 is rotated upon rotation of the winch shaft 35.

A traversing bracket du is provided with a pair of spaced apart parallel bushings Si which encompass and slide on the guide rods d3. The bracket 59 is further provided with a bushing 52 which slides on the shaft 44. A pivoted follower 53 is mounted in the: bushing 52 on a set screw 5d for engagement with the threads of the reversely threaded shaft lid. The follower 53 drives the bracket 5@ in successive reversing transverse strokes along the reversely threaded shaft 44, when the shaft d4 is rotated. The bracket 5d has a pair of bearing blocks 55 secured thereto and rotatably supporting an axle shaft S6 therein, A sheave 57 is mounted on the axle 56 for free rotation on the bracket 5d.

A pair of upstanding closely spaced parallel ears 58 are secured to the pallet 2l on each side thereof adjacent the forward end 2d thereof. The ears S8 are provided with a plurality of transverse bores 5% through which a detachable coupling pin dit extends.

A pair of inwardly converging opstanding tubular standards 6l extend upwardly and inwardly, respectively, fro-m each pair of ears 5S. Each standard 6l is provided with an eye 62 on its lower end which is loosely supported on the coupling pin 6u. The plurality of transverse bores 59 permits the lower ends of the standards 61 to be adjusted longitudinally on the palllet 2l, as required by the circumstances. The tubular standards 61 are supported in upstanding position by means of an elongated guy wire 63 connected at one end to an eye 64.', at the rear end 25 of the pallet 2.1 and at the opposite end to a support 65 welded to the upper end of the standard 61. The eyes del are positioned on opposite sides of the pallet 2l to balance the load. rthe guy wire has a turn buckle d5 mounted therein to permit the guywire d3 to be tensioned as required.

The upper edge of each of the tubular standards 6l is provided with a V-shaped notch d'7 extending downwardly therein, as best seen in FEGURE 5.

A sliding standard 63 is positioned in each of the tubular standards 61 and has a guide bushing d@ iixed to its lower end. The guide bushing o9 is arranged for sliding movement vertically in the standard 6l and has the upper portion thereof externally threaded at 7d. A second guide bushing 7l is lixed to the sliding standard d3 adjacent the upper end thereof and is provided with a threaded upper portion 72. ri`he threaded portions "ld, 72 of the guide bushings 69, 7l are of the saine diameter, while the lower portion of the upper bushing 7l is substantially smaller than the lower portion of the lower bushing 69.

A cylindrical nut 75 is arranged for threaded movement on the threads 7d, 7.?. and is provided with a downwardly extending V-shaped dog for locking engagement with the V-shaped notch 67.

A block, generally indicated at 75, is provided with a pair of arcuate recesses 76 on the opposite sides thereof to receive the upper ends of the sliding standards 68 therein. Transverse pins 77 extend through the upper ends of the sliding standards ed and through the block 75 to secure the sliding standards 6d therein. The block 75 has a rearwardly extending ear 7d formed thereon intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof. The pallet 2l is provided with an upstanding yoke 79 secured to the forward end 24 thereof intermediate the opposite sides thereof.

A hydraulic ram d@ has its lower end pivotally secured Vin the yoke 'i9 by a coupling pin til. A piston rod 52 extends upwardly from the hydraulic ram 8d and is pivotally secured to the ear 78 on the block '75 by means of a pivot pin 83.

The hydraulic ram 8@ is connected by a conduit 8d to la hydraulic pump 35 mounted on the pallet 2l. along with its reservoir 36. To raise and lower the block 75 with respect to the pallet 2li, the ram Sil is operated to force the piston rod 52 thereof upwardly, sliding the upper standards 68 out of the lower standards 6l.. As the upper standards 63 are lifted suiciently to release the V-shaped dog 7d from the notch 67, the nut 73 is manually threaded downwardly on the thread 72 until it leaves the upper guide bushing 7l. When the upper standards 68 reach their maximum height, the threads 7i? of the lower guide gushing 69 will be extending above the upper ends of the lower standards 6l and the nut 73 is Inanually threaded thereon and positioned so that the V-shaped dog 7d can be engaged in theV-shaped notch '67. As can be readily seen, the nuts 73 can be vertically adjusted on either the thread 7@ or the thread 72 to adjust the transverse angular relation between the standards 68 adjusting the position of the block 75, as required. 'Adjustability of block '75 is provided since it is necessary to raise the sheave 97 to approximately twice the normal height to accommodate the length of the swab 103 when the same is inserted into or removed from the well bore. Hydraulic pump 35 is actuated by the operator of the device to elevate the sheave 97 by the extension of hydraulic ram Sil. Operation of the hydraulic pump S5 is 'effected 'only when it is desired to insert or remove the swab 163 from the well bore. The pump d5 is driven by a separate motor, pulley, and belt arrangement, not

' sho-wn.

The block 75 has a relatively large central vertical bore 87 extending therethrough and a spring guide cup S8 is pressed into the upper end of the bore S7 to support a )coil compression spring 39 therein. The block 75 is furlthere provided with a pair of spaced apart parallel bores 9@ arranged parallel to the bore 87 and having guide bushings Sll inserted therein. he upper surface 92 of the block 75 is horizontal and flat, as can be clearly seen in FIGURE 9. A yoke, generally indicated at 93, is supported on the block 75 and has a pair of spaced apart parallel depending guide shafts 9d iixedly secured to the lower end thereof and which are positioned in guide bushings 9i, in bores 9G, and block 75. he yoke 93 is provided with a pair of bearing blocks 95 arranged in ly spaced aligned relation and having a shaft 9 journalled therein. A sheave 97 is fixed to the shaft 55 and rotates therewith. rhe yoke E is arranged for sliding movement with respect to the block 75 and the coil spring 3ft normally biases the yoke 93 away from the block A switch mounted on the yoke 93 is positioned to be actuated by a bracket 99' on the block 75 when the yoke @E has been weighted suiiiciently t0 come in contact with the block 75.

A revolution counter and electric switch ld@ is mounted on one of the bearing blocks 55 for operation by the shaft 96, for reasons to be assigned. A relatively thin steel cable lili is wound on the drum 335i and is trained under the sheave 57 of the levelwind mechanism di.. The cable lill is then trained over the sheave 97 extending downwardly therefrom into the well casing EQ2.

The cable Iltl is connected to a swab pump ltlj for moving the swab pump lltl in the well casing itil A conventional commercially available motor control and motor reversing unit iti/i is positioned adjacent the motor 26 and is electrically coupled to the switch 9S and the revolution counter and switch Mtl to contro-l thereby the operation of the electric motor 26 and the unit 2h.

In FIGURE 2a a cover, generally indicated at ltlS, is provided for the drum Sgt, electric motor 26 and the driving connections therebetween.

ln the operation of the swab pump unit when it is desired to pump duid from the well, the swab w3 is inserted into the casing tlZ and the motor 2d operated upon actuation of a manual switch.

The revolution counter switch intl, which is somewhat similar to the switch disclosed in the patent to Kallenbenz, 2,653,205 issued September 22, 1953, is pre-set prior to the initial operation of motor so that upon a predetermined number of revolutions of sheave 57 after the swab M3 moves downwardly in casing MBZ, a first pair of contacts ltltl' are closed. When contacts lilo' are closed, a circuit to switch ldd, in motor control and reversing unit ldd is completed which causes the rotation of motor 26 to be reversed to effect upward movement of swab 103 in casing to2. The swab N3 is moved upwardly a distance sufficient to discharge a slug of Huid lifted thereby. When the swab ld has reached the point in its upward travel in bore itl?, where the slug of duid is discharged, a second pair of contacts ltltl in revolution counter switch ltltl are closed and contacts lltl opened. Upon closing of contacts 10d a circuit is completed to switch ldd in motor control and reversing unit lili-tto reverse the rotation of motor 2-3, the circuit to switch 104', of course, being broken, to elect downward movement of swab M3 in the casing MP2. A schematic diagram generally illustrating the circuits for the above-mentioned operation is shown in FIGURE 13.

In the event that a slug of liuid above the swab lr03 is too heavy to be lifted, the motor 26 is automatically stopped. This is caused by the breaking of the circuit to motor Z6 by the separation of the pair of contacts 9S" in switch 9d. As previously mentioned, yoke 95, to which the switch 98 is fixed, is movable relative to block. 75 in response to the combined weight of the cable itil, swab 103, and the slug of Huid to be lifted. If the weight to be lifted is excessive due to too large a slug of iluid, the yoke 93 will move relative to the block 75 until switch 98 engages the same whereby contacts 9S will be opened ybreaking the circuit to motor 26 causing the same to stop. Operation of motor 26 will not being again until the weight of the slug is lowered by a portion of the fluid draining back into the lower portion of casing 102. In this regard it should be noted that some wells will not recover as rapidly as others and would require only a few widely spaced strokes of the swab 103 per day, whereas other wells would require almost continuous pumping operation.

In removing the swab 103 from the casing 102 for repair or replacement, it is necessary to raise the sheave 97 to approximately twice the normal height to accommodate the length of the swab 103. Through operation of the hydraulic ram 80 the sheave 97 can be raised the desired amount and then adjustably locked in its raised position.

With the instant invention protected with suitable fuses and the like, the swab pumping operation can be conduced on `an automatic basis with no operator in attendance.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the .appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A swab pump unit for oil field production comprising a horizontal pallet, a block spaced above the forward end of said pallet, means for vertically adjustably supporting said block with respect to said pallet, a yoke means resiliently supporting said yoke on said block, said block being provided with a pair of tubular bushings extending in parallel relation therethrough, said yoke being provided with a pair of parallel guide shafts slidably positioned in said guide bushings, a sheave journalled in said yoke, a winch mounted on said pallet, a cable wound on said winch and trained over said sheave, a pump swab supported by said cable in pumping position in a well, a motor for rotating said winch and means controlling said motor.

2. A swab pump unit for oil eld production comprising a horizontal pallet, a block spaced above the forward end of said pallet, means for vertically adjustably supporting said block with respect to said pallet, a yoke, a spring guide cup mounted in said block, a coil compression spring supporttd in said cup at its lower end with its upper end in supporting engagement with said yoke above said block to resiliently support the same, said block fur- -ther including a pair of tubular bushings extending in parallel relation therethrough, said yoke being provided with a pair of parallel guide shafts slidably positioned in said guide bushings, a sheave journalled in said yoke, a winch mounted on said pallet, a cable wound on said winch and trained over said sheave, a swab pump supported by said cable in pumping position in a well, a motor for rotating said winch and means controlling said motor.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,616,194 Montgomery Feb. 1, 1927 1,776,889 Claytor Sept. 30, 1930 2,131,868 Bolton et al Oct. 4, 1938 2,494,020 Watson Ian. l0, 1950 2,587,638 Meier Mar. 4, 1952 2,709,867 Routh June 7, 1955 2,727,724 Biebighauser Dec. 20, 1955 2,926,000 Allen Feb. 23, 1960 

1. A SWAB PUMP UNIT FOR OIL FIELD PRODUCTION COMPRISING A HORIZONTAL PALLET, A BLOCK SPACED ABOVE THE FORWARD END OF SAID PALLET, MEANS FOR VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLY SUPPORTING SAID BLOCK WITH RESPECT TO SAID PALLET, A YOKE MEANS RESILIENTLY SUPPORTING SAID YOKE ON SAID BLOCK, SAID BLOCK BEING PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF TUBULAR BUSHINGS EXTENDING IN PARALLEL RELATION THERETHROUGH, SAID YOKE BEING PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF PARALLEL GUIDE SHAFTS SLIDABLY POSITIONED IN SAID GUIDE BUSHINGS, A SHEAVE JOURNALLED IN SAID YOKE, A WINCH MOUNTED ON SAID PALLET, A CABLE WOUND ON SAID WINCH AND TRAINED OVER SAID SHEAVE, A PUMP SWAB SUPPORTED BY SAID CABLE IN PUMPING POSITION IN A WELL, A MOTOR FOR ROTATING SAID WINCH AND MEANS CONTROLLING SAID MOTOR. 